THE Scotland captain slammed home the only goal of the game as the national team's confidence continues to grow under Gordon Strachan ahead of the European Championship qualifiers.

Get weekly news by email

SCOTLAND captain Scott Brown scored his second winner in two games to secure a a 1-0 victory for Gordon Strachan's men against Euro 2016 group rivals Poland in a friendly in Warsaw.

Brown, who sealed the winner in a similar result in November's friendly with Norway, slammed home his first-time effort in the 78th minute.

The result sees Scotland continue their recent good run under Strachan, stretching their unbeaten record to five matches.

There was more good news for the Scots as Manchester United star Darren Fletcher made his highly anticipated comeback as a second-half substitute following a 16-month absence due to a chronic bowel condition.

Kamil Gilk and Arkadiusz Milik missed good chances to open the scoring for the home side, but Scotland kept their opponents largely frustrated over the duration of the game.

The Scots best chances came through Alan Hutton and Ross McCormack but, despite rarely threatening, the away side looked comfortable for majority of the win and will boost confidence ahead of the European Championship qualifying campaign which begins against Germany in September.

McCormack was the surprise selection as boss Gordon Strachan opted for a 4-4-2 formation, with the Leeds captain joining Steven Fletcher up front.

Strachan experimented with several other changes as David Marshall replaced Allan McGregor in goal and Barry Bannan lined up on the right of midfield with Ikechi Anya deployed on the left.

James Morrison takes on Poland's Ludovic Obraniak

Poland were missing some key stars in injured Borrusia Dortmund pair Robert Lewandowski and Jakub B?aszczykowski, but started with Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and former Celtic player Artur Boruc on the bench.

First half action was limited, but Marshall was forced to make two decent first-half saves from long-range shots but was otherwise untroubled.

His first stop came after 10 minutes when he tipped over Ludovic Obraniak's curling effort after the French-born midfielder had sidestepped James Morrison.

The Cardiff keeper later pushed wide a bouncing effort from Milik after the striker had been afforded too much space 28 yards out.

Scotland's only other first-half scare came when Poland right-back Lukasz Piszczek met Gordon Greer's headed clearance but the Brighton defender recovered well to force the skipper to blaze wide from 18 yards.

Scotland created their first chance in the closing seconds of the half when Brown played Hutton in through the right channel. The right-back had three team-mates closing in on goal but elected to shoot from a tight angle, with Szczesny able to block at his near post.

Strachan made two changes at half-time as Darren Fletcher came on for Morrison and Steven Naismith replaced Steven Fletcher.

The visitors were soon under pressure from Obraniak's deep left-wing cross but Piszczek volleyed well over.

The game started to open up in the second-half as Slawomir Peszko shot straight at Marshall before Mulgrew released Anya on the wing, but the Watford player put his cross behind the well-placed Naismith.

Scotland carved a decent opening when Bannan's pass allowed Naismith to break at the home defence. The Everton player laid the ball off for McCormack 18 yards out but Piszczek threw himself in front of the shot and blocked.

Poland should have scored in the 58th minute after Hutton was booked for bringing down Peszko. Obraniak's free-kick handed Glik a free header eight yards out but the centre-back sent it a yard wide.

Scott Brown strikes home the winner for Scotland

The Poles missed another great chance as they cut Scotland open with some quick passing movement, with Obraniak lifting the ball over the away defence for Milik to run on to but the forward shot over under pressure.

It was a dream come true for Dundee United starlet Andy Robertson, as the teenager came on for his debut midway through the half along with fellow full-back Phil Bardsley.

Strachan rang the changes again, switching to a 4-2-3-1 line-up by sending Charlie Adam on for McCormack and the substitute was quickly involved in the build-up to the goal.

Naismith laid off the ball to Anya, whose right-wing cross found Adam. The Stoke player's header was half-cleared and Brown ran in to power a shot into the roof of the net from 18 yards.

Goalkeeper Marshall made two stoppage-time saves from Michal Maslowski and Lukasz Teodorczyk but Scotland were able to hold on for the victory.

As the referee blew the final whistle, jeers could be heard from around the Warsaw National Stadium which will host the sides European Cha mpionship qualifier in October.